What is a Music Video?

Music videos combine songs with imagery for promotional or artistic purposes. They can be short or long videos depending on the task.

The music video is created/adapted to the lyrics of the song. Often, it makes visual what the song is about or the meaning behind the lyrics. This makes it easier for people to understand especially deaf and hard of hearing. Use of sign language mixed with body language takes a lot of practice but can make the song more visual and accessible for a lot of people including deaf audiences. 

Popular music videos added a new layer of excitement for the fans leading to increase in sales of CDs and records through music shops. The advance in technology and easy access from mobile devices to YouTube, Spotify etc, fans have different ways of buying and enjoying music via downloads and streaming.

There are different types and styles of music videos. Some are performance videos with singing and dancing, some are story telling, narrative videos, some are concept videos introducing the audience to new ideas but in most cases it will be a mix of one or two or all of these with lyrics and animation.

What is the purpose of Music Videos?

The purpose of music video is so a band can promote their brand of music and artist, while entertaining the audience. 

The Beatles

The Beatles were the English rock band formed in Liverpool in late 1950s. The first Beatles member was John Lennon then the second member was Paul McCartney. They're lead singers and lead guitarist, joined by two more members George Harrison and Ringo Starr. The Beatles are regarded as the most influential band of all time. They were a very popular rock and roll, boyband creating 1960s counterculture and helping popular music's recognition as an art form. In the late 1962 the Beatles' popularity carried on increasing up with Beatle mania gripping hold including screaming women and girls fans, some going crazy and passing out. The Beatles have many different music genres, rooted in with skiffle, beat and 1950s rock and roll, their's are the sound incorporating elements of classical music and traditional pop. The band explored lots of music styles ranging from ballads, and Indian music to psychedelia and hard rock. The Beatles revolution had a wide impact on the music industry with them often publicised as leaders of the era's youth. Sadly, two Beatles members have died, John Lennon assassinated, and George Harrison through cancer. They are survived by Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr. 

One of my favourite Beatles songs is called Yellow Submarine. The music video created for this musical song is an iconic 1970s classic animation with melodramatic pop cartoons. This is so nostalgic. 

Michael Jackson

Michael Joseph Jackson was an American black singer, songwriter and exceptional dancer. He was given the nickname of 'the King the Pop'. Michael Jackson grew up with his big, black family in Gary, Indiana, United States. He had many siblings, 6 brothers, and 4 sisters but unfortunately one of his older brothers died of respiratory failure after he was born premature as Marlon's twin brother Brandon. In 1964 Michael with his older brothers formed a band called the Jackson Five. His passion and love of music lead him to becoming a singer and Michael eventually split up from his brothers in 1971 to start his solo music career. They were devastated. Michael became very popular and released over a hundred songs in 70s, 80s, 90s and 2000s. 

Although Michael Jackson was a handsome, young, black man, he was unhappy with his black looks. He paid to have plastic surgery to change his looks to be more paler with disastrous effect. In the end, his face was huge problem and  he'd cover it up wearing his sunglasses and a mask. 

I remember that fateful day 12 years ago, watching the breaking news and finding out Michael Jackson had passed away by cardiac arrest with overdose. Very sad. He was great guy, and an inspirational person.

One of my favourite Michael Jackson songs is Thriller. It was released when I was younger about twelve or thirteen years old. This song is absolutely terrifying and fascinating because of the horror movies. the Thriller song was fearsome and very creative with props. I like the film scene which Michael Jackson packs with the Halloween paranormal creatures e.g. zombies, frankensteins, ghosts, vampires and werewolves into dance in the music show. Michael Jackson does like horror movies you'd know. 

Eminem

Eminem is an American rapper, songwriter and record producer, but his real name is Marshall Bruce Mathers the third. He grew up in St Joseph, Missouri in the streets. This place is a very poor environment, with lots of bad people involved in gangs or selling drugs. Young people are affected to become delinquents or them having family problems and toxic friends. Eminem is an only child who grew up with his teen mother of seventeen years old. Eminem's father left and abandoned them when he was a baby about few months old. Eminem's childhood was very traumatic. He grew up with his young mother who used drugs and he was bullied in school. His young mother remarried to another man, Eminem's stepfather, and many years later she gave birth to his half-sibling. 

Eminem was about fourteen years old when he started to be a rapper, to go with his friends to the club, skipping school to play hooky so he could keep practicing to rap. Eminem continued to be motivated and stand up against his bullies from school. He was often involved in fights with the bullies. He didn't like going back to school, and dropped out from his high school deciding he would become a professional rapper. Eminem's lifelong passion for his music career as a rapper, has got him to rank number one. He won an Oscar Award in 2003 with his popular song 'Lose Yourself'. Eminem didn't attend this award ceremony.

 Oh well, he would never give up his music career to continue his life, and he's an inspiration and a very cool person. I've heard and like listening to his rap songs. They are amazing 1990s songs. It's very interesting how rap music has warnings because it contains bad, swearing language. By the way, I knew about swearing language and I remember I've watched his backstory movie, called 8th Mile when I was younger. Eminem is a great guy and scary positivity because his face is very serious anyway, but I like him and his rap songs as well.

Eminem's backstory movie is amazing with very important messages to be aware of. I watched that movie when I was a younger teenager. Even when his life hits very hard, life continues going on. Eminem is involved in movies and music as well so has two different roles. Eminem's song is Lose Yourself music album and he raps in movie scene of the 8th Mile. Ultimately, he loves doing rapping with his passionate music career.